Bill seeks to collar unlicensed kennels

Ken Dixon

Updated 8:32 pm, Tuesday, May 14, 2013

HARTFORD -- Commercial boarding facilities and pet kennels would have to post their state license number on advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet, under legislation unanimously approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

Earlier in the month, the state House of Representatives approved the legislation, which next heads to the governor for final review.

Sen. Ed Meyer, D-Guilford, co-chairman of the Environment Committee, said that current law requires pet boarders and kennels to obtain licenses from the state Department of Agriculture, but the bill would address complaints of unlicensed facilities that have had been reported for sanitary problems and animal abuse.

"We have received a number of complaints in the last year or two that there are unlicensed kennels advertising in the newspaper and over the Internet that do not have any good standards," Meyer said.

Sen. Clark J. Chapin, R-New Milford, ranking member of the committee, said it makes sense to have the requirement for newspaper and Internet ads.

"It's also very similar for what we do for many of the various trades we have in the state of Connecticut," Chapin said. The bill was placed on the Senate's consent calendar for unanimous approval.